Businesses in any sector, who are keen to diversify and investigate new business models that exploit data and digital technology, are potential beneficiaries. Many businesses have a large pool of data or internal expertise and collective knowledge that may be tapped to develop a knowledge-based business or product.

What activities are on offer?

Bespoke consultancy which may include:

Analysis of business processes and systems to identify underused data and knowledge assets.

Exploration of digital solutions to solve future business challenges or opportunities.

Investigation of new digital products and service concepts.

Development of digital prototypes to assess concept and feasibility.

What is the process?

Our team will work with you to listen to your challenges, develop your concept and then explore how it might be implemented. This may use a combination of resources and technologies including databases, bespoke software components, new or existing web and mobile applications and physical interfaces such as sensors and Internet of Things devices. Where appropriate the process will include software development and linking of software components to produce a prototype systems for evaluation and feasibility assessments.

Who will deliver it?

The Computing and Communications team draws from expertise in:

Software engineering

Algorithm design

Data engineering

Data exploitation

User experience design

Digital business development

and will deliver and manage projects up to six months in duration.

In addition to our core team, we will engage and manage post graduate students from Computer Science and Data Science backgrounds who can work on short term projects of up to 3 months, and a small number of PhD studentships will be part funded for larger scale three-year research projects in areas such as

Data science

Cyber security

Digital health

Communication systems

Interactive or pervasive systems

Project examples

Some examples of how we might use existing business assets in new ways combined with digital technology are described below:

Creating a data management serviceAn at-home care provider for elderly and infirm clients collected a large set of audit data from carer staff as part of its audit requirements. Using this simple format as basis, a data system was developed that collated the information and provided some performance and analysis reports to business and clients. This has the potential to form the basis for a new subscription service provided to other home care provider businesses as a management information system.

Designing a knowledge-based productA management consulting firm’s standard business model included consultants working one-to-one with clients, delivering bespoke risk management advice. The software engineering team worked with the management company to identify a subset of specialist knowledge that could be delivered through other routes. This knowledge formed the basis for a web based service providing a simple risk assessment model. This opened a new market at a lower tier of support utilising existing knowledge from within the business. It also served as a marketing channel for more bespoke consultancy services.

Solving a problem and developing a software productA visitor boat ride business wished to develop an IT-based ticketing system that included tracking of passenger numbers and location for safety reasons. This data had to be transmitted to a remote location where it was accessible in case of an emergency. The data collected also had uses in management information tracking accurate passenger numbers over time and location and it enabled the provision of passenger facing information displays by web and mobile. While the system was developed for a specific purpose, the components were suitable to be adapted to other businesses with a similar need.